Process of hardening copper.



tlNETED %TATE% PATENT ROBERT A. HAMILTON AND JOSHUA HENRY, OFCONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF HARDENING COPPER.

1\To Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT A. HAMIL- TON and JOSHUA HENRY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Connellsville, in the county of Fayetteand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and use= fulImprovements in Processes for Harden; ing Copper, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of processes for hardening copper,and compounds employed in connection therewith.

To this end the invention has in View a simple and thoroughly practicalprocess for etlectually hardening copper so that the same may bemanipulated and utilized in the same manner as and for some of thepurposes of other metals, particularly steel. In this aspect theinvention contemplates an improved means for attaining the much soughtfor object of imparting to metallic copper that degree of hardness,toughness, flexibility, and elasticity which renders the same availablefor many purposes which metallic copper of commerce cannot now beemployed for. Furthermore, the treatment which copper undergoes inaccordance with the present invention is of such a character as toenable the copper to be manipulated in the ordinary rolling andhammering processes without losing its stability or hard ness.Furthermore, copper treated by the present process may be varied in itsdegree of hardness to suit the conditions of use.

In carrying out the present invention, the first step in the process isto heat metallic aluminum in a crucible to a high temperature and whilein this highly heated condi tion, there is added to the same asufficient amount of iron pyrites to .form a compound that will breakbrittle under the hammer when cool. The aluminum and pyrites arethoroughly stirred and mixed while in the highly heated condition untilcompletely combined, after which the compound thus produced is pouredfrom the crucible into convenient forms for subsequent handling.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1910.

Patented lteb. Mt, 1911.

Serial No. 54mm.

To harden metallic copper, according to the present invention, thecompound referred to is combined therewith in the following manner:First: the copper is heated to a molten condition in a crucible, afterwhich from one to three ounces of the said compound is added to eachpound of copper, according to the hardness of the cop per desired, itbeing understood that the greater the amount of said compound added, theharder the copper becomes. Under all conditions, however, the copper isthe predominant metal and is greatly in excess of the said compound.Second: in addition to said compound, there is added borax and charcoal,one half ounce each. Third: after the introduction of the said compound,borax and charcoal, according to the proportion indicated, the heat iscontinued until the constituents of the molten mass become thoroughlycombined, after which the resultant substance is poured from thecrucible into molds or shapes desired.

We claim:

1. A process for hardening copper which consists in first making acompound by heating together metallic aluminum and iron pyrites, andsubsequently incorporating this compound into a molten mass of metalliccopper whose proportion is in excess of that of the said compound.

2. A copper composition, consisting of copper and a compound resultingfrom the heating together of aluminum and iron pyrites, the copper beingin excess of said other two ingredients.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ROBERT A. HAMILTON. JOSHUA HENRY.

Witnesses:

P. 0. HUMMEL,

S. KERN.

